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dinsdag 23 oktober 2012

The series four Misfits opener reveals a darker show, but still one that fans know and love. Here's a spoiler-free review...

Before getting into this series four opener, I want to acknowledge how monumental a task the Misfits team had on their hands this year. Series three was hampered by one missing cast member in Robert Sheehan, but here there were three, and it must have seemed nigh-on impossible to sort out the mess during the writing stage. As we know, Simon (Iwan Rheon) and Alisha (Antonia Thomas) both departed in last year’s series closer, and news arrived earlier this year that Lauren Socha wouldn't be returning in the role of Kelly.

Most people are also aware that the show is welcoming three new cast members to fill the gap, with Jess (Karla Crome) and Finn (Nathan McMullen) joining Curtis (Nathan Stewart-Jarrett) and Rudy (Joseph Gilgun) on community service for series four, before the introduction of new character Alex (Matt Stokoe). Based solely on this episode, it’s incredibly hard to judge how well they’ll fit into the regular groove of the show, as this opener does its very best to split perspective fairly equally. Curtis, Rudy and Seth are here as our familiar faces, but Jess and Finn are given enough screen-time to introduce themselves. They’re not major revelations, but there’s an interesting tease in the final moments that intrigues me for what’s to come from at least one of them.

I’ll say next that this is an exceedingly strange episode, and the writers should be praised for not taking the easiest route to a rebooted format. I say the three regulars (though it’s unclear how much Seth will be around this year) are providing our familiar faces, but they’re not quite as we knew them. The show in general seems much, much darker than it’s ever been, even after the episode’s resolution, and the departure of both the show’s love story and main female presence has made an unexpectedly major impact on the tone. Kelly’s absence is explained briefly, but you get the impression that the writers are more interested in getting on with their new start than going over old ground.

That said, the episode doesn’t really set us up for things to come as much as last year’s premiere did, and the rest of the series is still a big unknown when the credits start rolling. It’s an episodic adventure that doesn’t seem as if it will have a huge residual impact plot-wise, but is probably a good indication of where the writers want to take the show. If I’m being honest, that’s a little worrying, since the rising darkness in each character carried over from last year left me kind of unsettled. There is a lot to love about the episode, and I’m eager not to write the series off without considering all of the different elements being brought in, but I’m concerned the light-hearted tone of early Misfits might be left behind.

The show has leaned more towards comedy in the past, with lots of thriller and action conventions thrown in and mixed up, and the overtly humorous episodes often come out as season-bests. There were obviously some laughs in this opener, but there were some over-used jokes from previous series that felt a little tedious and forced. Rudy, for example, is at his irritating best, and those who didn’t like him last year won’t be changing their minds based on this. The story of this episode, and the things that happen in it, are at times thoroughly unpleasant, and humour from an unpleasant person will almost always come across as a bit distasteful.

The whole episode seems designed to unseat long-time fans and I must, again, give credit to the writers for not making it easy for themselves. Viewers probably wouldn’t have been ecstatic with a by-the-numbers or predictable opener, but I reckon we would have understood considering the difficult stage the series was left in. That said, if anyone decides to dip into this episode uninitiated, I’d wager they’ll be a bit confused and more than a little horrified. Playing like an experimental gangster flick, things get quite nasty, and no amount of laboured masturbation jokes can counterbalance the unnerved feeling some of it leaves you with.

None of this means it’d a bad first outing, of course, and it’s the inherent strangeness that somehow makes it undeniably, unmistakingly, Misfits. No one fell in love with the show for its cosy predictability, and so I’m glad they’ve managed to change things up once again without losing sight of what made it so special in the first place. I didn’t love this episode, and found most of it hard to get my head around, but the job of moulding a new ensemble cast has been done all over again with as much grace and confidence as can be expected. It aims to intrigue, rather than excite, but, crucially, remains the same Misfits fans know and love.

"The X Factor" has earned a third season from Fox, the network said Monday.

The singing competition underwent a major upheaval following its first season, with judges Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger being ousted, along with host Steve Jones. The series returned for its second season in September with new judges Britney Spears and Demi Lovato, and new hosts Mario Lopez and Khloe Kardashian will begin their stints next month.

Mike Darnell, the president of alternative entertainment for Fox, acknowledged the changes while announcing the renewal.

“This season, Simon [Cowell] and the producers of 'The X Factor' took an already strong show and made it absolutely fantastic," Darnell said. "The format changes are working, the contestants are unbelievably talented, and Britney and Demi --alongside Simon and [judge] L.A. [Reid] -- have brought an incredibly fun new chemistry to the judges’ panel that our fans really love. We feel great about the show and I’m thrilled to bring it back next year for Season Three.”

“I couldn't be happier about 'The X Factor' already being renewed for another season,” series creator and judge Cowell added. “I am so proud of the show and the team who have made it this season. I want to thank our incredible sponsors for their support and creativity, and Fox for going out of their way to do everything they can to make this show a success.”

So far in its second season, 'The X Factor' has averaged a 3.9 rating in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demographic and 10.6 million total viewers.

Bad boy Jesse James is heating up the Lone Star state! He's returning home to Discovery Channel with a new series... and a new business endeavor as a partner at the Austin Speed Shop. Will Jesse be able to turn the Speed Shop into a world class custom shop? Will he create a new, better life for himself and his family? Tune-in for JESSE JAMES - OUTLAW GARAGE on Discovery Channel Monday, November 5 at 10 PM ET/PT.

Everything is bigger - and better - in Texas. Jesse is getting back to his roots, back to being one of the best metal fabricators in the world. Now a part owner of the Austin Speed Shop, Jesse sets a new mantra for the shop...build the highest quality, most badass cars in the world. The stakes are high and the pressure is on. Customizing cars and trucks, with zero tolerance for mistakes, Jesse unleashes his creative style and unapologetic attitude. On JESSE JAMES - OUTLAW GARAGE, Jesse pushes his new crew into uncharted territory to build the Austin Speed Shop into the best custom car shop in the country .

FOX has extended yet another one of its comedies, this time asking for two additional episodes of its Tuesday tentpole "New Girl."

The Zooey Deschanel-led half-hour will produce 24 episodes this season, matching its output from last season. On Friday, FOX asked for two extra installments of "Raising Hope" and "The Mindy Project," likewise bringing their season totals to 24 episodes.

Meanwhile, The CW has commissioned three additional scripts of its newly launched dramas "Beauty and the Beast" and "Emily Owens, M.D." With the late starts for both series, said orders will keep their respective scribes busy while the netlet mulls their back orders.

Patrick Kennedy (Boardwalk Empire) and Tamzin Merchant (The Tudors) will lead the cast of new ITV drama Murder on the Home Front.

Written by Davy Kane, the crime thriller will follow an early forensic murder investigation, set against the backdrop of the Blitz.

James Fleet (The Vicar of Dibley) and Emerald Fennell (Any Human Heart) will also star in the series, loosely based on the memoires of Molly Lefebure, secretary to the Home Office Pathologist and pioneer of modern forensics Keith Simpson during World War II.

Kennedy will play Dr Lennox Collins, a cutting-edge pathologist, while Fleet is cast as his superior Professor Henry Stephens, and Merchant will play Collins's secretary Molly.

Executive Producer Sally Woodward Gentle said: "With Geoffrey Sax (White Noise, Doctor Who) directing Davy Kane's witty and fast-paced script we hope to depict London in the Blitz as a city living life on the edge."

ITV's Director of Drama Laura Mackie added: "We're delighted to commission Murder on the Home Front to add to ITV's portfolio of new drama."

Murder on the Home Front is currently shooting and is produced by Christopher Hall (The Last Weekend, Hidden).

Jake Bugg has said that it is his job to keep "X Factor sh*t" away from the top of the charts.

The singer-songwriter beat former X Factor champion Leona Lewis to the number one album spot yesterday (October 21) with his self-titled debut record.

"I guess it proves my point – people still want to hear guitar music. It's my job to keep that X Factor sh*t off the top of the charts," he told NME.

Bugg knocked Mumford & Sons' Babel off the top to number two, while Leona Lewis's third studio album Glassheart debuted at three.

After Rita Ora's number one album in early September, the subsequent artists to reach the top spot have all been guitar-based acts: The Vaccines, The xx, The Killers, Mumford & Sons, Muse and now Jake Bugg.

"Homeland" has received a third season from Showtime, the network said Monday.

The 12-episode season of the Emmy-winning terrorism drama will begin production in spring 2013.

The pickup comes a day after "Homeland" reached a ratings record. Sunday night's episode of the series drew 1.75 million total viewers with its 10 p.m. airing, a high for the series that edged out the Season 2 premiere's total viewership of 1.73 million. The Sept. 30 season premiere was up 60 percent from its series premiere, drawing 2 million viewers over multiple airings.

"Homeland" has been a critical hit as well, picking up six Emmy Awards earlier this year, including for Outstanding Drama Series and Outstanding Lead Actress and Actor in a Drama Series.

“The Emmy wins for 'Homeland' have certainly set the stage for a great second season,” Showtime Networks' president of entertainment David Nevins said. “The writers, cast and crew of 'Homeland' continue to create a remarkably entertaining and suspenseful roller coaster ride, growing audiences week after week. We can't wait for our viewers to experience what unfolds through the rest of season two."

Indian media giant Reliance has teamed up with NBC to finance one of the broadcast network’s new shows, a 10-episode pirate adventure series titled "Crossbones," but is backing off its $40 million production cost, an individual close to the project has told TheWrap.

Through its newly-formed independent studio Georgeville Television, Reliance agreed to finance three-quarters, or $30 million, of “Crossbones,” a tale of pirates from 18th century England based on Colin Woodard’s “The Republic of Pirates,” according to three individuals close to the project. NBC agreed to finance the remaining $10 million.

But Reliance, whose other Hollywood investments have offered mixed to weak returns, has been rethinking its financial commitment and is seeking to reduce it by nearly half, one of those individuals said.

“Everybody agreed on a $40 million budget. And everyone agreed it was (split) 10 and 30,” said the individual. “They are renegotiating. The question is where will it end.”

Georgeville CEO Marc Rosen declined to comment for this story. NBC also declined to comment, as did producer Walter Parkes. One executive close to the negotiations said the discussions were still ongoing and at a delicate stage. An NBC executive said the deal was complete, and Reliance had not changed its role.

The show storyline follows an undercover assassin sent to a pirate state led by Blackbeard, the infamous pirate. According to NBC, It is expected to start shooting in Puerto Rico next spring. It does not yet have an air date.

NBC chief Bob Greenblatt worked with outside financiers when he was at Showtime for series such as "The Tudors," and while the practice is common in film, it is unusual for broadcast television.

Reliance has loomed large on the entertainment landscape for the past few years, investing hundreds of millions of dollars in DreamWorks to uncertain profits and placing millions into talent deals by CAA that have not yielded any films.

Reliance agreed to give DreamWorks an additional $200 million in April, but the new deal calls for the studio to make fewer films.

Reliance also bought a majority stake in IM Global, a foreign sales company that has recently moved into movie production. Its most recent release, "Dredd," a 3D remake of the 1995 Sylvester Stallone movie, was a box office flop, costing $50 million to produce and so far taking in $23 million worldwide including $13 million domestically.

Georgeville Television launched in May with support form Motion Picture Capital, a London-based company backed by Reliance.

Georgeville, run by former Heyday Films executive Marc Rosen, is the studio behind “Crossbones,” a show thought up by “Luther” creator Neil Cross and produced by Parkes and Laurie MacDonald.

While Georgeville is still involved and has an offer out for the lead role, its financial commitment remains a matter of disagreement.

The CW's new superhero series "Arrow" has landed a full season, the network said Monday.

The dark adaptation of DC Comics' "Green Arrow" has been a breakout hit for the network, racking up 4.1 million total viewers with its Oct. 10 premiere. That made it the most-watched show in three years for the network. It drew a 1.3 rating/4 share in the 18-49 demographic, which isn't impressive for the Big 4 networks, but is for the five-year-old, younger-skewing network. The series retained those demo numbers with its second episode.

“Our strategy of rolling out our new fall schedule later in the year really paid off for the CW on several levels, especially with 'Arrow,' which was the network’s most watched premiere in three years and is one of the breakout hits of the new season,” CW president Mark Pedowitz said. “I’m proud of the quality of 'Arrow' and I’m happy we’ll be able to share more of it with viewers.”

"Arrow" star Stephen Amell tweeted, "Best way to start a Monday? Getting picked up for your back nine episodes. Thwick."

The actor played The Master in five episodes of the sci-fi drama between 2007 and 2010, but told an audience at the Cheltenham Literature Festival that he would like to take a "different" approach to the villainous role in the future.

"I'd love to have another take on him, to be a bit quieter," Simm said, according to the Radio Times.

The 42-year-old hinted that he was not entirely happy with his portrayal in previous episodes, adding: "I started annoying myself after a while. [Then-showrunner] Russell T Davies had a specific idea of what he wanted him to be like. So I just had to do exactly what he wanted me to, and he wanted a giggling lunatic."

Simm explained that he would be interested in taking The Master to "a very, very dark place" under current head writer and executive producer Steven Moffat.

"I'm sure his take on [the character] would be different so I'd be interested to have a look at it," said the star.

Doctor Who will return to BBC One this Christmas for a festive special, with eight more episodes to follow in 2013.

The actor - who plays Sherlock Holmes in new CBS drama Elementary - told Metro that he is a massive fan of the BBC drama, starring his friend Benedict Cumberbatch.

"I love the work that Benedict has done with Sherlock," said Miller. "I would call him up, like a groupie, after every episode came out, wanting to talk to him about it. And we had a discussion about this project [Elementary] as well."

The English star argued that there is room for more than one version of Conan Doyle's detective on television, but admitted that Elementary may not be "everyone's favourite" version.

"We are just making the best show we can," he said. "This is entertainment we are making. There are much more important things to worry about in life."

Cumberbatch previously complimented Elementary, calling Miller's take on the Holmes character "absolutely fantastic".

The eliminated duo said they were surprised to see Maloney escape the bottom two on Sunday (October 21) night's results show, The Sun reports.

Rapper Simeon Dixon said: "Chris surviving was a bit of a shocker. He got really lucky. He is the biggest diva."

Dixon isn't the first to give Maloney that label, with judges Louis Walsh, Nicole Scherzinger and Tulisa Contostavlos having all admitted that Gary Barlow's act is the "biggest diva" in the competition.

MK1's Charlie Rundle said: "If there's not a drink around or he doesn't get his food on time or go home in the right taxi, then it's a bit of a nightmare. The simple things that shouldn't matter, matter to him."

Reports have also suggested that Maloney has been warned over being rude to staff after he shouted at a researcher.

MK1 went on to criticise acts who only use the show for media attention.

Dixon said: "Some people are milking it to get themselves in the papers."

Rundle added: "We're not those kind of people. If other contestants want to do that then that's fine. But we want exposure for our music."

AMC's "Walking Dead" slipped in the second week since its record-breaking season 3 premiere, but still beat everything on television except for football.

The zombie drama scored an excellent 5.1 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 9.5 million total viewers Sunday. That was down from a 5.8 rating and 10.9 million last week, when it became the most-watched basic cable drama ever.

Last week's episode was also the most watched non-sports show on any network since the "American Idol" finale in May.

If its ratings continue to hold, the show has a legitimate chance to end the season as television's top-scripted show -- something no cable show has ever done.

Sunday's episode had 6.5 million viewers in the key demo,. Two episodes in, its average rating for 18-49 is better than that of any fall show except for NFL games.

Moments after a debate in which Barack Obama was widely seen as the winner, the conservative columnist referred to the president as "the retard."

"I highly approve of Romney's decision to be kind and gentle to the retard," she tweeted.

This is the part of the story where we're supposed to talk about what this means for the campaign and whether Obama and Mitt Romney will react and Coulter's history of insensitivity and shocking remarks and so on and so forth, but really, she's boring now, good night.